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Pirates-Brewers Preview

Apr 25, 2010 - 11:36 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (7-10) at Milwaukee (8-9), 8:10 p.m. EDT

A poor weekend performance proved the Milwaukee Brewers can sometimes be vulnerable at the plate. The Pittsburgh Pirates, though, might not be entirely convinced.

With their lineup suddenly struggling, the Brewers host the Pirates on Monday night in the teams' first matchup since playing one of the most lopsided contests in major league history.

Milwaukee (8-10) opened a six-game homestand with a lackluster series against Chicago, scoring four runs while getting swept in a three-game series. In the finale Sunday, the Brewers went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position in a 12-2 defeat.

The Cubs had the type of production at the plate that the Brewers were becoming accustomed to. In its previous series, Milwaukee outscored Pittsburgh 36-1, and the 35-run difference tied for the third largest in modern major league history in a three-game series.

The finale was particularly embarrassing for the Pirates (7-11). Milwaukee had 25 hits and beat Pittsburgh 20-0, dealing the Pirates the most-lopsided defeat in their 124-year history.

It was the fifth-highest margin of defeat in a shutout in league history. The Brewers tied the club mark for largest victory and set a record for their biggest shutout win.

Brewers slugger Ryan Braun homered, doubled, singled and drove in five runs. The two-time All-Star, though, went 1 for 11 versus the Cubs.

"The Pittsburgh series, we not only hit the ball, but we pitched very well," manager Ken Macha said. "(Against the Cubs), we did neither."

Braun has two homers and eight RBIs in his last three games against the Pirates. He's 5 for 12 with two homers against Zach Duke (2-1, 4.13 ERA), who is opening this series for Pittsburgh.

Duke struggled against the Brewers on Wednesday night, surrendering seven runs and walking four in five innings of an 8-0 loss.

The left-hander is 0-5 with an 8.63 ERA in his last seven starts versus the Brewers and 3-6 with a 5.73 ERA in 14 career outings. He has never won at Milwaukee, going 0-5 with a 7.38 ERA in nine starts.

"You're going to have those starts every once in a while that won't go exactly the way you want," manager John Russell said.

Russell has gotten atrocious pitching during Pittsburgh's six-game losing streak, with his starters posting a 12.39 ERA. The Pirates lost the finale of a three-game set with Houston 10-3 on Sunday.

They have been outscored 55-9 during their skid, scoring three runs or fewer in each contest.

Garrett Jones leads the Pirates with four homers and 12 RBIs, but is batting .226. The left fielder is hitting .385 in 13 games against the Brewers.

Jones singled and walked in his two plate appearances against Yovani Gallardo (1-2, 4.30) on Wednesday. Gallardo, set to take his turn in Milwaukee's rotation, allowed three hits and struck out 10 in five innings, getting lifted after throwing 103 pitches.

The right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.66 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance against the Pirates, striking out 62 in 50 2-3 innings.